Welcome to the Kitchen!—daily poetry and news from NorCal and Rattlesnake Press (poetry with fangs!). Read our DIARY, the cream-colored section at the left, for poets local and otherwise. Then scroll down our GREEN AND BLUE BULLETIN BOARDS on the right for more poet-phernalia. And please feel free to be a SNAKEPAL and send your work, events and releases to kathykieth@hotmail.com—see "Placating the Gorgon" in the FUCHSIA LINKS right below here for info. Carpe Viperidae!

Saturday, August 08, 2015

Keep Looking

The rabbit stopping in the snow, in the blue
Light of the Winter moon, catches that light
In his eye and throws it back into the sky
With an eye so small, a star we see so bright.

Giant trees tower above us as we walk, snow
Crunching beneath our heavy boots. We have
Camps to reach and villages to find before the dawn
Has any thought of molding the objects of the morning.

From where we stand, we can see the grey wolf shadows
On the hillside far across the creek from us. They move
Away and down the slope, “looking for yet another star”.
Your wisdom seems tempered by the hour and the perfect
Stillness this single night has as we move through it.

“One who names the stars has called us here, that we
Too may know the names of stars.” Fish below the ice
Gaze upwards as well, the sleeping bear listens to the naming,
Rolls slightly and nurses the cubs close against her fur.

This is so perfect, here on this whirling planet
With its bright blood and vales of tears. Let it
Retain its stillness just a moment more so that we
May notice in this moonlight a quick mouse
Upon the forest floor, and see an owl not see it
As its feathered flight in silence recites the litany
Owls might make as they too know names of stars.

Evening Over James' House

NO AND THEN NO AGAIN

A voice says that
You’ve seen this before,
But you haven’t.

The soft evening settling
Above the small houses.
The easy light glowing
Though pull-down shades.

A radio lost in the dim
Atmosphere with its own
Orchestra playingVariations on Greensleves.

You can’t remember
This ever being true,
But you are sure
You’ve seen it.
You keep looking.

In the Chinese Demonstration Garden

RAIN AND FOG

Morning has long hands filled with rain.
Its mouth is full of trees hissing
Down the street, dull gray reflections
On duller window panes.

Morning here is like morning in
The mouth of fog. It becomes
Hard to tell what one is going to do
With such vast grayness, such
Sameness fondling the day.

Load up the car, drive away.

Every city looks the same.
Everyone’s name has the same
Tonality, a breakdown of fiddle
Music and flat-picked guitars.

A single gull carves an arc
In the mist. It is only visible
For a moment. One value exchanges
Itself for a lighter one, then a darker
One, fog moving close to the ground.
The yes, finding no place to rest, close.

______________________

DROUGHT

Teaching the rain
To batter the rooftops,
Fill the river until it boils,
Fill dams to the brim.

Rehearse it over and over
Again, above the gardens,
Above farms and orchards,
Down the bedroom windows,
Alert to its every move.

Watch the sun
Steal the child
Away and hold it
Now for over three
Years.

Alfredo's Cat

FALLING

The snow, quieter than
A heartbeat, has some
Business with the ground.

The room rocks like a small boat
Bumping into things.
The cats are suspicious.

An old woman carefully
Picking her way through
Her years, forgetting her
Neighborhood, says:

“The snow may be white
But there is fresh blood
Beneath it, like someone
Bit through their tongue.”

___________________

EVERYONE IN HEAVEN

The curtain is rising
Like a pilot to my heart,
And I’m not seeing a thing
On the street.
It’s moving farther away.
There’s no place left to start.

Dreaming like a machine.
The doors are open wounds.
I’m preparing to feed the demons
If I could remember what they eat.

Stumbling into your doorway once again.
Ghosts full of howling.
Highways full of cold light.
Every one of them noon time.

Everyone in heaven is dead.

In Mike's Front Yard

PROPHETS

What will keep us here?
Some terror that rides
Us like a horse?

The voice of an old woman
Telling us what terrible
Things we have become
As she swats at imaginary
Flies and begs us
To help her, but not come
Too close.

The young man who
Every few hours sticks
His head in the window
And announces yet
Another fire, pointing
His finger at a horizon
Too hazy to even be seen clearly.

Stop-and-go traffic
Through the center
Of a great city
At night.

People banging on windows
Trying to see sell oranges,
Clothing from China,
Their own children.

A voice whispers delight
Through a broken window,
Telling us how lucky
We are to be alive.

___________________

THAT MOON

That moon isn’t supposed
To shine through my bedroom
Window like that for at least
Another hour or so.

I’d tell it about
That, but I’m just
About to fall asleep.

I am sure everything
Will be okay in the morning.

Morning Glories

Today’s LittleNip:THE WHITE PACKAGESMy German grandmotherWalked me to the groceryStore with her of a Saturday.I was small, about seven years old.I listened to her talking To the butcher and orderingHer meat in thick English.When we got back to her houseShe told me, “English.The only thing it is goodFor is ordering groceries.”______________________

—Medusa, thanking D.R. Wagner for a hearty start to our weekend, and noting that Trina Drotar has posted photos of the landscape work being done in Poet Laureate Park; they're on my own Facebook page (Kathy Kieth) rather than Medusa's. Thanks, Trina, for the update!

OUR BULLETIN BOARD ON THE KITCHEN WALL: Get Stoned on Medusa and Her Bad-Hair Days

Medusa: That moody Gorgon from whose head so many Snakes do sproingggg...

CARPE VIPERIDAE—Seize the Snake!

Snake Drawings are bySam the Snake Man

POETRY NOOZ— Local & Otherwise—

100K POETS FOR CHANGE 9/30

100 Thousand Poets [or more] for Change unite Sept. 30 to make their voices heard for a better world: see 100tpc.org/. Sac. Poetry Center celebrates that day with a reading/book launch beginning at noon. Be there!

OUR SEED OF THE WEEK—

...isThe Naked Truth.Click onPlacating the GorgonorCalliope's Closet(in theFUCHSIA LINKSat the top of Medusa) for info on ourSeeds of the Week (SOWs),and keep scrolling down this green board for different types of SOWs. But don't be shy: send poems/photos/art about other subjects, too, to kathykieth@hotmail.com/. No deadline on SOWS, and no need to be just a lurker...!

Need more SOWS?

For previous Seeds of the WeekandForms to Fiddle With, plus other cool stuff, scroll back up to the FUCHSIA LINKSand click onCalliope's Closet. (Wow! What a list of SOWS we have there!—several years' worth!)•••Go toWriter's Digestand find the poetry prompts at "Poetic Asides": www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

•••The biannual onlineThe Prompt,by the way, publishes only poems written from prompts: promptlitmag.org/. See their Editor's Challenge, too!

FORMS WTH WHICH TO FIDDLE

For those of us who love pain...

[Scroll back up to theFUCHSIA LINKSand click onMedusa Mullsfor where we stand on poetry forms. And go toCalliope's Closet for a complete list of forms we've done in the past.]

MORE FOOD for the BRAIN

This is your brain on poetry...

Here are some items of note to get your brain a-stewin'. Or scroll back up to the FUCHSIA LINKS at the top of the blog for even more in On-Going Workshops/Retreats—not to mention spoons and ladles like Calliope's Closet and Publishing— all designed to stir up those poetry brain juices of yours!

SUBMIT, I SAY— SUBMIT!

Get your poetry out into the world—

Hint:Our FUCHSIA LINKonPublishingat the top of Medusa might help you get started with your submissions journey, and here are some other journals and contests that may be looking for YOU (you won't know unless you try).

•••Rattle is also looking for a poem written within a week of a public event that occurred within the last week. The chosen poems will appear every Sunday on their website.Selected poets will receive $25. To have your own poemconsidered for next week’s posting, submit it before midnight Friday PST. See www.rattle.com/poetry/submissions/guidelines (Scroll down to "Poets Respond".)

•••HEArt Online seeks outstanding writing and art that speaks to our mission: promoting the role of artists ashuman rights activists through public recognition of art asa vehicle for social reform. Please submit only unpublishedwork (except music & videos) that deals artistically withfighting discrimination and promoting social justice,addressing issues of sexuality, race, class, etc. See heartjournalonline.com

•••The Moore Time for Poetry series on Channel 17 Comcast/Surewest cable, AT&T U-verse Channel 99, or view online at www.accesssacramento.org and click on the "Watch Channel 17" button. First and Third Tuesdays at 10 p.m., First and Third Wednesdays at 2 p.m., First and Third Thursdays at 6 a.m. Hosted by Terry Moore. Call 916-208-7638 for more info.

Don't see your reading event listed on Medusa? That's probably because you didn't send it to us! We try to find every event in our area, but sometimes we miss, or even though we see an event listed as "on-going", we might not list it because we're not sure—maybe you've taken a week off. So keep us in the know, and we'll do our best to advertise for you. It's such a shame to invite poets to read for you, and then to fail to advertise them.

Want to learn about some Bay Area events? Debralee Pagan (debralee@astoundnet) publishes an e-newsletter called "Strictly East" (Poetry Past the Caldecott Tunnel)—email her for a free subscription. See also www.poetryflash.org.

•••Thurs. (12/14), 7-8:30pm: Winters Out Loud Poetry Open Mic, Berryessa Gap Wine Tasting, 15 Main St., Winters. Host: Deborah Shaw Hickerson.•••Sat. (12/23): Writers on the Air will not meet, due to its winter lay-off.

And there's always Luna's...

Every Thurs. night, 8pm: Be sure to check out Poetry Unplugged at Luna's Cafe (1414 16th St., Sacramento) at least once in your life! 20 years of wild/crazy poetry, with featured readers and plenty of open mic—not to mention Art Luna's wonderful food and dandy libations! Readings are free, but a one-drink minimum purchase is appreciated. Click/pic for more about Luna's Cafe, or see www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEIRBEEqNtw for more about Poetry Unplugged. And get there early!

If you are an Amazon shopper, don't forget to make your purchase through smile.amazon.com. Designate the Sac. Poetry Center so that they may receive a 0.5% donations. (This doesn't change the price of the items.) A win for your non-profit!

AND NOW FOR MORE FUN—

HOT, HOT JOURNALS FULL OF HOT, HOT POETRY!

Online and otherwise—

Here are some journals and other publications that are local-ish (okay, there are some Bay Area ones in here, too). If we've left anybody out, let us know!

Plus, keep an eye on the college scene. Some of those journals accept submissions from non-students, though they usually have more limited (mostly annual) deadlines. Go to Medusa's Hot Links for Calaveras Station, Penumbra, Suisun Valley Review, Cosumnes River Journal, but be aware that college journals come and go in this time of tight funding.

...keep scrolling down this skinny blue box for NorCal online journals, publishers, more than 100 Hot Links and much, much more!

POETRY NOW

Get your poetry NOW—

Poetry Now is the quarterly journal from Sacramento Poetry Center. Click/pic for submissions guidelines.

EKPHRASIS

Ekphrastic writing done right—

Ekphrastic writing ain't easy, but this semi-annual journal, edited by Sacramento's Carol and Laverne Frith, shows us how it's done. (Art is supposed to be a springboard for ekphrastic poems, not just a description of the scene.) Click/pic to order your copies. The Friths also offer the Ekphrasis Prize every year.

BREVITIES

A Wee Wonder!

Joyce Odam's half-sized Brevities packs a wallop with its monthly collection of poets from around the country. E-mail Joyce about submissions at joyceofwords@gmail.com.

MUNYORI LITERARY JOURNAL

Joanne Hillhouse (photo by Andy Williams)

Click/pic to go to Munyori Literary Journal (online), edited by Sacramento's Emmanuel Sigauke and featuring writers from around the world.

SONG OF THE SAN JOAQUIN

Song of the San Joaquin (print), edited by Salida's Cleo Griffith, is a quarterly journal of the San Joaquin chapter of Calif. Fed. of Chaparral Poets, Inc. Subject matter is the Central Valley, whether you live there or not. There is a reading in Modesto to premier each issue. Click/pic for more.

BLUE MOON

Sacramento artist and writer Jennifer O'Neill Pickering is the featured artist in the latest issue (#8) of Blue Moon Literary and Art Review (print). Click/pic for more info. Available at Avid Reader in Sac. and Davis, and in Davis at Newsbeat, Konditorei Austrian Pastry Cafe, John Natsoulas Ctr. for the Arts, Rominger West Winery.

MANZANITA WRITERS PRESS

Manzanita Writers sponsors publications, workshops and readings in Calaveras County under the guiding hand of Monika Rose, including their weekly radio program for writers (manzapress.com/radiotv). Click/pic for more.

GINOSKO

POETRY FLASH

Literary Review and Calendar

The venerable Poetry Flash (online, print), edited and published for a very long time by Joyce Jenkins, is the go-to publication for the Bay Area and much of NorCal. Click/pic for a look-see.

TEA PARTY (OAKLAND)

No, not THAT tea party...

Here's a lively print publication out of Oakland... Click/pic for more.

LATEST CANARY!

Click/pic for the latest issue of Canary, an online literary/poetry journal of the environmental crisis, pub. by Hip Pocket Press. The Entrekins live in Orinda now, but they used to live in Grass Valley. HP Press also publishes books and the online Sisyphus.

POEMS-FOR-ALL

The wee-est of books with plenty of punch!

Richard Hansen's tiny Poems-for-Allare published out of San Diego now. Click/pic for more.

ABOUT THE SWAN

What's the Latest?

Click pic for what's new fromSwan Scythe Press.

R.L. CROW

Bill Gainer's R.L. Crow Publications has a distinguished history of publishing distinguished poets. Click/pic to check them out. R.L. Crow also sponsors The Magnet Project—beautiful square magnets with poems from local poets (art design by Richard Hansen). These are free; look for them at The Book Collector or from Bill or Richard.

SIX FT. SWELLS

Todd Cirillo, Julie ValinandMatt Amottpublish After Hours Poetry of their own and others in occasional anthologies and other books. Click/pic for more.

KOOL STUFF FROM KAMINI

Kamini is a long way away, but they do publish locals likeAnnie Menebrokerand other Snake Pals. Click/pic for their latest.

PRESA PRESS

Presa Press publishes books and magazines, including Presa Magazine, focusing on the lively small press poets—including many Snake Pals from around the country. Click/pic for more.

LATEST FROM LUMMOX

Click/pic for what's new from R.D. Armstrong's Lummox!

______________________

MEDUSA'S CLASSIFIEDS

Send us your "classifieds" (these are whatever YOU think they are...)!

WANT TO FIND PAST POEMS THAT APPEARED ON MK?Once posted, our poems remain in the cybersphere forever and ever. (Scary!—Medusa's past lives after her.) To find them, go to the white search bar at the tippy-top left-hand corner of MK, next to the red letter (is that an "e" or a "b"?), and type in the poet's name (be sure you have the correct spelling, initials, etc.). Voilà!—every post in which that name appears will show up right there on the blog! Or, if you know the date the poem was posted, we also have —> —>